Takes on College Football: Against the Spread, Championship Week

We are not experts (though our percentages are better than some of the experts, god dammit). If you go by these picks, you’re bound to be lose money. Though you never know! It’s entirely possible that you’ll be able to pay off all those student loans that you owe from going to these universities! Each week, two crazy, lazy writers at The Alabama Take give their best guess at the best bets with the lowest stress. It’s our college football picks of the week!

2018 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 21-17-1 (Week Thirteen: 1-1-1)
T.D. Wood: 18-21-1 (Week Thirteen: 2-2)

Blaine Duncan
Here we are. The end of the season. Looking back, only a few of us got these championship games right. Let’s close this out with a final set of picks.

Stanford (-3) at Cal: Stanford has a better coach, better team, and better chance at this one. They’ve also been in big games more so than Cal. Now how does that play out? Does that make Cal want it more? Or is the Cardinal ready for this match up, which may feel more like a consolation prize? I like Stanford by a touchdown here. They’ll cover.

Georgia at Alabama (UNDER: 64): Bama’s explosive offense gets the nod here in this over/under of 64, but Bama’s defense has really stepped up its game late in the season. Saban and co. will keep Georgia under seventeen points, and an angry, hard-scrabble, revenge-seeking Georgia team will keep Tua and the Tide from going completely ballistic. This one will end on a 45-17 note, with Alabama getting its (amazing) 27th SEC Championship. Bet the under.

Memphis at Central Florida (-3): I’ve railed on UCF all year, and it’s been deserved. Don’t get me wrong. They’re (still) a joke when it comes to a comparison of the upper echelon of football programs in this 2018 year of our Lord (Saban). But there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll beat these Tigers by 12 points or more, even with a back-up quarterback, who will add a new dimension to the run game for the Knights. This game is the best bet of the Championship Week. Lock it up!

Pittsburgh at Clemson (-27.5): I’m not sure how high this line could get for me to back off of Clemson, but I think that team is ready for the Playoffs and ready to shine. That QB of theirs is solid, if not great. I think these Tigers win by 35 points and makes this one another boring ACC title game.

T.D. Wood

Fairly disappointed in my performance this year, but maybe I can salvage a .500 record with a strong final weekend.

Memphis (+3) vs. UCF: The Tigers almost ended UCF’s winning streak earlier this year, and they might smell blood against a wounded UCF squad.

Texas (+8) vs. Oklahoma: This game should be a lot different than last time around, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a close affair. The Longhorns don’t get blown out, and the Sooners have a knack for pulling out squeakers. Expect another tight one.

Georgia vs Alabama (-12.5): Georgia, moreso than any other team in the country, matches up well with the Tide. However, Bama is on an unreal level this season, and the Bulldogs are a bit shaky against the run. Bama pulls away late.

Pitt vs. Clemson (-27.5): Pitt will try to slow this game down. They will make it ugly. They will try to grind and grind the Tigers into mistakes. It will not work.

Northwestern vs. Ohio State (-14.5): As much as I want to see the Wildcats pull it off, it ain’t gonna happen. Too much talent on the Buckeyes.

Note: All games are Against the Spread. Odds are taken from the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook.